AT&T Acquires AlienVault, Mimecast Grabs Ataata

In an effort to expand its security solutions to small and medium-sized businesses (SMBs), global communications, media and entertainment and technology company AT&T has announced that it will acquire California-based security solutions company AlienVault. Combining AlienVault's threat intelligence offerings with its existing portfolio of cybersecurity solutions, AT&T hopes to deliver a unified security management platform for its business customers. This acquisition will hopefully benefit AT&T’s SMB customers, as SMBs are increasingly the target of attacks. A 2017 Ponemon Institute study found that more than 61% of SMBs had been breached, an increase of six points since 2016. “Regardless of size or industry, businesses today need cyber threat detection and response technologies and services,” said Thaddeus Arroyo, CEO, AT&T Business, in a press release. “The current threat landscape has shifted this from a luxury for some, to a requirement for all." “AlienVault’s expertise in threat intelligence will improve our ability to help organizations detect and respond to cybersecurity attacks," Arroyo continued. "Together, with our enterprise-grade detection, response and remediation capabilities, we’re providing scalable, intelligent, affordable security for business customers of all sizes.”